Volume 1, Issue 4
December, 2007
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Put a bright bow on your budget . . .
Shopping for gifts during the holidays is no different from shopping the rest of the year. Determine how much you can realistically afford to spend. Let your family know that you’re watching your pennies this season.
Make a gift list and stick to it . . .
With a overall budget in mind, make a list of the people you want to buy for. Take the list with you when you go shopping and avoid impulse spending. Take a calculator with you to make sure you don’t exceed your
limits.
Start early . . .
You may not be in the shopping mood yet, but shopping early provides advantages. You can comparison shop and watch for sales. You’re less prone to impulse shopping. If you don’t start early, your likely to pay a full price or buy something expensive out of desperation. You can avoid expensive last minute postage.
Pay cash . . .
It’s always easier to overspend with a credit card than with cold hard cash. The credit card is a major source for debt problems any time of the year. Credit counselors report that debt problems rise substantially following the holidays.
Be creative . . .
Home made gifts or doing something special for someone can be an inexpensive and appreciated gift.
SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES IN SCHOOL TEAMWORK
AFT research director Jewell Gould told members of the AFT PSRP program and policy council at their spring meeting—now’s the time to get in on the ground floor as our union begins preparing the second edition of “It Takes a Team: A Profile of Support Staff in American Education.”
Through personal stories and national data, the original edition (It takes a Team) revealed the contributions of our school support staff, which the study called “the living infrastructure that makes public education possible.” The edition in this story will show how these key roles have evolved over the past five years.
To share your story contact Ruth Skow, your McAllen AFT President at rbskow@sbcglobal.net
If your story is published in our newsletter, you win a $25.00 gift card.
So share your story of the everyday miracles you accomplish as you work behind the scenes.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
By: Clement Clarke Moore
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his
Clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
Laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD– NIGHT.”
MERRY CHRISTMAS
EVERYBODY!!
THE
Ruth Skow
Armando Gonzalez
Bob Greenwood
Martha Lueg
Indeera Mohammed